By India McCarty
AIR BUD RETURNS is officially heading to theaters Aug. 21!
“Watching AIR BUD RETURNS come together has been a memorable experience, and we can’t wait for families to enjoy watching Buddy on the big screen again for the first time,” Cineverse Chief Motion Pictures Officer Yolanda Macias said in a statement announcing the release date.
She continued, “The team, including our canine and human cast, have worked incredibly hard to bring Robert’s vision to life, and I can think of no better way to celebrate National Golden Retriever Day — yes, it’s a thing! — than announcing its release date.”
Related: Meet the Canine Stars of AIR BUD RETURNS!
“AIR BUD has, for nearly three decades, stood for heartwarming family values, reminding us to ‘play from the heart’ and ‘when given the opportunity, to always take the shot,’” writer, director and franchise creator Robert Vince added. “AIR BUD RETURNS honors that legacy while introducing the next generation to Buddy on the big screen. And yes, there still…‘Ain’t no rule says a dog can’t play basketball.’”
AIR BUD RETURNS “focuses on 12-year-old Jacob (Aydin Artis), an aspiring basketball player coping with the recent loss of his dad. After he and his mom (Tracy Ifeachor) move to his dad’s childhood home in Fernfield, Jacob discovers a VHS tape of his dad playing basketball on the same court as a hoops-shooting golden retriever. Soon, Jacob begins his own adventure with a neglected golden retriever that he names Buddy,” per The Hollywood Reporter.
In addition to Artis and Ifeachor, the cast includes Edwin Lee Gibson, Tyler Labine, Erik Gow and Maxim Swinton.
“AIR BUD RETURNS isn’t just another sequel or remake — it’s a unique story,” Vince said in a statement shortly after the project’s announcement. “This movie will engage nostalgic AIR BUD fans while introducing a new generation to the beloved basketball-playing golden retriever, Buddy. It builds upon the legacy of the OG AIR BUD with all the fun, the magic, heartwarming scenes, and Buddy playing basketball. More than anything, it’s a deeply human story about a dog and boy, centered on themes of adaptation, redemption, and teamwork.”
Macias echoed Vince’s statement, saying that “parents [are] looking for family-friendly movies to share with their kids.”
“With the return of an iconic franchise that has remained popular since Robert created the OG AIR BUD more than 28 years ago, we are offering a real treat that will resonate with fans across generations,” she continued. “This is the ideal first project for us as we [Cineverse] expand our theatrical strategy to the kids and family category.”
AIR BUD RETURNS premieres in theaters Aug. 21.
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